Celebrating with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. and linking with others who share their celebrations, too. I am grateful to Ruth for helping us celebrate together!
Life continues to be busy with family, the bookstore, reading and writing. I saw Hidden Figures with my daughter and the grand-girls last Sunday, an inspiring story that also frustrates me because we continue to hear stories that have rarely been told. We were glad to cheer these strong women "who persisted". I am alarmed daily at the news and continue to attempt reading trusted sources and doing what I can to protest what is not right. I celebrate that many are doing this, and more!
I've taken a challenge to celebrate Laura Shovan's February birthday, a poem a day, this time with ten words and a current news article as prompt. This is the fifth year doing, is quite a challenge, but also a joy to have a time when it's quiet and focused on words and creating.
Here's one poem that I liked writing. One doesn't have to write from the topic, and can ignore the article, but sometimes I do write from it. This article is about the week's snowstorm in the east, and the ten words are
pounds -
cancel
storm -
path -
whiteout -
avoid -
slick -
quickly -
challenge -
plummeted -
Bonus: pack a punch -
The poem:
What We May Never Understand
She always packed a punch
with her cooking, her calling.
Here on the prairie, breakfast brought
out her best tricks.
Now her heart plummets as she pounds away
in the final whiteout of flour.
Bread for the family is the challenge.
No getting through to town in this snow!
She’s canceled her thought paths to the pantry,
avoiding the empty shelves this one morning.
Quickly it’s mixed, a slick way to avoid
the inside storm of hungry folks.
A bit of cracklings spread thin,
and the winds pound at the windows.
Linda B. © All Rights
Finally, I celebrate that full moon last night. The moon is one of my favorite things. I can't get a great pic from my IPhone, but it helps me remember.
Have a wonderful next week everyone!
Linda, I did think that your poem based on the snowstorm article presented a vibrant picture of prairie life where the mother was the quiet component of internal and outside storms. Hunger is always a catalyst so basing your poem around the kitchen was quite effective. I missed seeing the moon because I was in the yoga studio. I did not know that you sketched-another hidden fact that surfaced for me.
ReplyDeleteI've never persisted in the sketching, but my school supported journaling, so I learned as we traveled outside, inside and into the world. I like the doing, but have done so little this year, more writing! Thanks, Carol.
DeleteKeep writing and keep sketching--you do well at both, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane, it does help the calmness of the mind.
DeleteYour poem brought me to tears remembering my grandma's tales of trying to make bread to feed her family during the depression. Those were very hard times but for many today the challenge continues/
ReplyDeleteFrom whence we came, Anita. One set of grandparents had to move in with another family for a while, each with 5 kids. I'm sorry that there are those today who struggle so, too. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI share your frustration regarding moon pics on our iPhones. I still remember sitting beside you at All Write and catching a glimpse of your sketches in your writer's notebook. Glad you're enjoying sketching a bit again. Amazing how busy we can stay even when we're retired. I love seeing what's in the bookstore. It seems like a great place.
ReplyDeleteI hope not to put off the sketching much. I do enjoy doing it. but yes, the time fills quickly it seems. Yes, the bookstore is delightful. You would make a wonderful volunteer, Ramona! Thanks for the memories!
DeleteLinda, I'm impressed with your poem that came out of the 10 words. And keep sketching. I like sketching, but I struggle with making time. Sketching and writing have so much in common.
ReplyDeleteYes, writing and sketching fill us up when we focus, a nice respite from all the other parts of life. Thanks, Alice.
DeleteYou find joy in art of playing around with words, arranging and rearranging until they tell a new story, carry an emotion, create a picture. I like the result you share with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terje. I know that you like that wordplay too!
DeleteYou are a talented lady, Linda -- writing poetry AND sketching! They go together so beautifully too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer, yes, they do.
DeleteI have enjoyed reading some of the poems produced from Laura's challenge. But sadly, many of them are so political so yours is quite refreshing to read! You should certainly share more of your sketches - words and sketches do make a talented person!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leigh Anne. Some poems are 'branching out', but sometimes it's hard to do.
DeleteGood for you that you are returning to sketching, Linda - I remember some lovely ones you shared years ago on your blog. I am fixated on this line in your poem: the final whiteout of flour.
ReplyDeleteWhat a rich and exuberant visual!
Thank you. Hope your "whiteout" is disappearing!
DeleteYou are so talented! Poetry and art! I can never get a good picture of the moon even though I've tried many times. The poetry challenge sounds interesting. I still need to see Hidden Figures. I've heard such great things about it.
ReplyDeleteI know, and I guess we need better cameras, Lisa! I hope you'll like Hidden Figures-a beautiful story! Thanks, Lisa.
DeleteI too enjoyed Hidden Figures and wish I had known there were women at NASA before now. Writing poetry that way seems fun.
ReplyDeleteThe poetry challenge is fun. Each year Laura has created a new idea, and her challenges are terrific. Thanks, Crystal. I knew women were there, but not about the segregation.
DeleteWow your creative juices are flowing. Love your images of the "final whiteout of flour" and "the inside storm of hungry folks". I'm so impressed with the poems that have been conjured for Laura's project. Keep it up. You amaze me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julieanne. It's a good challenge that helps work on poetry, and see how others are writing, too.
DeleteThis poem captures such a specific time, place, and person. The last line is so suggestive. I'm glad you leave it for the reader to imagine what happens next.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura. It was nice to share this one. I always enjoy your challenges!
Delete